Scientists from the University of Tsukuba found that dancing to musical rhythms could enhance brain function.
They found that music with a groove, known as groove music, can strongly increase measures of executive function and associated brain activity in participants who are familiar with the music.
The research is published in Scientific Reports and was conducted by Professor Hideaki Soya et al.
Music that elicits the sensation of the groove can elicit feelings of pleasure and enhance behavioral arousal levels. Exercise, which has similar positive effects, is known to enhance executive function.
Accordingly, this may also be an effect of listening to groove music.
In the study, the team conducted brain imaging to evaluate corresponding changes in executive function and measured people’s psychological responses to groove music.
They performed functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) with a color-word matching task to examine inhibitory executive function before and after listening to music.
They also conducted a survey about the subjective experience of listening to groove music.
They found that groove rhythm enhanced executive function and activity in the frontal part of the brain only in participants who reported that the music elicited a strong groove sensation and the sensation of being clear-headed.
In fact, these psychological responses to listening to groove rhythm could predict changes in executive function and brain activity.
The team says the effects of groove rhythm on human cognitive performance may be influenced by familiarity or beat processing ability.
Strategies for enhancing executive function have a wide range of potential applications, from preventing dementia in older people to helping employees enhance their performance.
Furthermore, the positive effects of groove music on executive function could include the effects of positive emotions and of rhythmic synchronization.
This could help to explain the many positive benefits of dancing, or any form of exercise conducted while listening to music. Further research is needed to develop applications for this new information.
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